<p>Go to South Street Seaport for lunch…lots of different kinds of inexpensive foods in a food court setting. Ride the Statin Island Ferry…it’s not very expensive and you get a great view of the statue of liberty. The Met Museum of Art is a suggested donation, but you can contribute any amount you choose (even nothing)…but I echo everyone else…it’s money well spent and you can easily spend a whole day there. They Museum of Natural History is also very very good…and it’s not all that expensive either. Go to the department stores and browse around. Bloomingdales is fun, as is Macys. Walk down 5th avenue and go into all the trendy shops (Tiffanies, etc). You won’t be bored just walking around and going in and out of stores and buildings.</p>
<p>I can’t wait until FRIDAY!!! Supposed to sprinkle and be a bit cool (euphemism for wet and cold) but I don’t care!!</p>
<p>Downtown Little Italy is great place for eating cheap anytime of day. Pellegrino’s is a good choice. The Sheraton is definitely in the touristy areas so try to get away from there for dinner. Diners (Roxy on Broadway & 47th I think - etc.)are great places to share a sandwich as stated above - the sandwiches are huge.</p>
<p>Take in all of the stores on 57th street. You could easily spend hours living out your fantasties of life styles of the rich and famous. Tiffaniy, Dior, Prada, Chanel, Jil Sander, Bergdorfs, Burberry, Van Cleef and Arpel and the lists goes on</p>
<p>I really recommend that you go and search this website and then post your question if you don’t find enough answers: <a href=“http://www.chowhound.com%5B/url%5D”>www.chowhound.com</a>. These people love food the way we love college admissions…</p>
<p>I’m a native New Yorker who hasn’t lived there in a long time - and you guys are really making me miss my city!!</p>
<p>I’m assuming there’s still memorial stuff up at Ground Zero - go there and you’ll count your blessings many times over.</p>
<p>I highly recommend the Brooklyn Heights promenade (I used to live a block away) - if it’s a nice day, get an ice cream cone and wander over around sunset and check out one of the most amazing views in the city.</p>
<p>Upper West Side restaurant suggestion: Pomodoro on Columbus and West 71st. Family owned, neighborhood joint with great, inexpensive food. Always packed with locals of all ages. We’ve taken my son and his Barnard friends there and had rave reviews from the kids.</p>
<p>A really fun place that I visited just two weeks ago (while on business!) is the Sony Wonder Technology Lab <a href=“http://www.sonywondertechlab.com/[/url]”>http://www.sonywondertechlab.com/</a> at 56th and Madison (East Side). It’s a great interactive “museum” that’s free, educational, and entertaining. To avoid school groups, aim for lunch time.</p>
<p>For other tips on doing NYC on the cheap, check out frommers.com. A couple of fun dining experiences are at the Jekyll and Hyde Club <a href=“http://www.jekyllandhydeclub.com/[/url]”>http://www.jekyllandhydeclub.com/</a> and the Motown Cafe at 104 W. 57th Street. Ethan Hawke likes to eat dinner before his show at the West Bank Cafe at W. 42nd and 9th. (Saw him sitting at the bar when I was there a couple of weeks ago.)</p>
<p>A cheap eating experience is having hot dogs at Gray’s Papaya (numerous locations). They were one of the hot dog stands featured on a PBS special.</p>
<p>Have fun, and all the best to your daughter (break a leg!)!!</p>